Transcript: David Gardner, Co-Founder, The Motley Fool

Transcript: David Gardner, Co-Founder, The Motley Fool April 28, 2026 8:30am by Barry Ritholtz <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LdYig-aQseY?si=9O9FSQ03Ff7Cn0Jk" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe> The transcript from this week’s MiB, David Gardner, Co-Founder, The Motley Fool is below. You can stream the full conversation on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Bloomberg.The video version is on YouTube. The full archive of MiB episodes can be found here. ~~~ Masters in Business: David Gardner Co-founder of The Motley Fool Barry Ritholtz: [00:00:02] Bloomberg Audio Studios, podcasts, radio News. This is Masters in business with Barry Riol on Bloomberg Radio. [00:00:16] This week on the podcast, I had so much fun chatting with David Gardner of The Motley Fool. I remember The Fool back in 93, 94 when it first launched on a OL. What a fascinating career. If you are a stock picker, if you’re someone who really is committed to finding the best companies and then riding them for decades, you’re gonna find this conversation really fascinating. [00:00:41] I thought his book was really interesting. His whole approach to life to investing is really great. I enjoyed our conversation and I think you will also, with no further ado, my discussion with the Motley Fools David Gardner. Thank David Gardner: [00:00:55] You, Barry. It’s a delight to be with you. Thank you so much. Barry Ritholtz: [00:00:59] I have a vivid rec recollection of sitting on a trading desk and watching you guys pop onto TV at various times. And as soon as you guys showed up, I’m like, all right, let me pull up Nvidia and Netflix. I knew they would start running and then soon turn around and fade. So it was always, just intraday, we’ll get a little later to the difference between investing and trading. [00:01:25] Yes, sir. But first, I have to go back to your background ’cause it’s so unusual. University of North Carolina on a Morehead scholarship focused on bachelor’s in English and creative writing. I assume Wall Street was not the original career plan. David Gardner: [00:01:42] It actually was a career plan. As I came to UNC Chapel Hill as a freshman, I was telling people, I think I’m gonna go to work on Wall Street. I had a formative summer in between my sophomore and junior year where I worked at Solomon Brothers back in the day. The Good Friend era. Barry Ritholtz: [00:01:59] I think Michael Lewis was writing Liars Poker somewhere around then. Late David Gardner: [00:02:02] Eighties, I think it first dropped 80 89. [00:02:04] The year was 1986 for me that I was at, oh, she probably Barry Ritholtz: [00:02:07] Overlap with him at the same time. It David Gardner: [00:02:08] Was, I don’t recall Michael, and I’m really glad to see where he’s guys, he’s gone on to Great heights. But that was the summer I learned I was never gonna wanna go work on Wall Street. That’s that. That was a really wonderful experience. I just realized it’s not a culture that I’m gonna probably spend time in with as an, as an adult. And so that was so helpful. I love the markets. I just wasn’t a Wall Street person. Barry Ritholtz: [00:02:31] And you grew up in a household where markets, investing stocks were part of the daily conversation. Your dad helped you win a high school stock picking con contest. Tell us a little bit about that. David Gardner: [00:02:41] Sure. It was actually earlier than that. It…

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